Betty Marie McDowell

Betty Marie McDowell was born on January 4, 1931, to Corrie and Vernetta Hollis in Lufkin, Texas. Betty was the eldest of five children; four sisters, Edna, Helen, Delores, Vesta and one brother, Corrie Lynn.

Betty continued her family legacy with the birth of her six children, Peggy, Bobby, Ronnie, Willie Ann, Vanessa and Charlette. In 1954, Betty moved from Beaumont, Texas to Seattle in search of a better life for her children.

After the passing of her sister Vesta in 1969, Betty took on the responsibility and guardianship of raising her sister's three children, Rosanna, Ronnie Marie, and Diana.

Betty served 32 years as a dedicated Physical Education Assistant for Seattle Public Schools. Betty then retired in 1997 after serving 16 committed years at Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington. After retirement Betty worked part-time for Seattle Parks and Recreation and continued supporting the Franklin High School community by dedicating her time working at the basketball and volleyball home games, as well as community games and tournaments until her departure of this life (she loved a good "hot link" at a Franklin game).

In her spare time, Betty enjoyed visiting her friends and helping them around the house or with what ever was needed to be done. She also enjoyed gardening and working in her yard, keeping it well manicured with the porch, decks and fences painted. Painting for her was a joy and fun activity, never to waste any of her left over paint (no matter the color), she would paint the rocks with the left over paint.

Betty was a member of Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church for 14 years where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Betty later joined Macedonia Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington where she served as a faithful member until her recent passing.

Betty is survived by her six children; Peggy (Willie) Lollie, Bobby (George) Carter, Ronnie (Tanya) Benard, Willie Ann Foster, Vanessa (James) Jones, and Charlette (Joe) Washington, all of Seattle, Washington; brother, Corrie Lynn Hollis of Beaumont, Texas; nieces Rosanna Morgan, Ronnie Marie Morgan, and Diana Morgan all of Seattle, Washington; cousins Betty Joyce Dean of Crockett, Texas; and William "Dubie" James of Beaumont, Texas. She was blessed with ten grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, as well as a host of family and many, many other beloved friends. Betty was preceded in death by her sister, Vesta Lee Morgan, her mother Vernetta Hollis, her sisters, Edna (Marie) White and Helen McBride; aunt, Katie Dean, father, Corrie Hollis and sister Charlene D. Thompson.